Outrage Erupts Over Gyeonggi Province’s Postpartum Care Subsidy Cut Amid Fiscal Emergency

Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae declared a "fiscal emergency" citing shrinking tax revenues and accumulated debt burdens, and a month later, the fallout from the austerity measures is unfolding across various sectors.

Backlash is growing among families with newborns as the postpartum care subsidy—which provided 500,000 won per newborn—is set to end with applications filed this month.

A petition opposing the abolition of the postpartum care subsidy posted on the Gyeonggi provincial government petition website garnered over 16,000 signatures by the 13th, surpassing the 10,000-signature threshold required for an official response from the governor.

The petitioner stated, "I am expecting my first child in November," and argued, "It is unfair to cut off support without prior notice or a grace period."

With support ending for those born in September, infants born between October and December are excluded, prompting demands to "rescue the 'stuck-in-the-middle children' born between October and December 2026."

The Gyeonggi provincial government maintains that the postpartum care subsidy program, which began in 2019, required adjustments as child-birth support has expanded, including the First Meeting Voucher and municipal childbirth support grants.

Governor Choo posted on social media, "The Gyeonggi provincial government under the 9th popular election did not arbitrarily cut the postpartum care subsidy budget." She explained, "The budget for this year was initially formulated for only nine months, making program adjustments inevitable, and limited financial resources were preferentially allocated to support procedures for infertile couples."

Previously, Gyeonggi Province slashed 546.5 billion won by adjusting some 1,300 existing programs in its second supplementary budget of 42.242 trillion won on August 19th.

However, movements are underway in the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, where the Democratic Party holds a majority, to restore the cut budgets.

Various standing committees increased allocations by 6.5 billion won for the Gyeonggi Market and Business Corporation and 1.95 billion won for the opportunity income for persons with disabilities, while adding 3 billion won each for newlyweds and youth housing support.

As local assemblies require the governor's consent to increase expenditure budgets, whether Governor Choo will accept the assembly's budget increase proposal has become a major issue.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Seo Byeong-wook | Design by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.